Another 24,000 turkeys were being slaughtered yesterday in the battle against bird flu.

They were on four farms within 10 miles of the one where the outbreak started - and all five are owned by the same company.

About 6,500 turkeys, geese and ducks were already being killed at Redgrave Park Farm in Suffolk. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the new cull was a precaution to stop the H5N1 strain spreading.

It said no birds showed signs of flu but the farms had "dangerous contact" from people or vehicles at Redgrave Park.

One is in the 3km protection zone around Redgrave, the others in the restriction zone over most of Suffolk and Norfolk.

Owners Gressingham Foods named them as Grove Farm, Botesdale, and Hill Meadow, Knettishall, both in Suffolk, and Stone House Farm, West Harling, and Bridge Farm, Pulham, both Norfolk.